Summit Lake Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Summit Lake Park
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Summit Lake Park
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| Location | Clear Creek County, Colorado, USA |
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| Nearest city | Idaho Springs, CO |
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Benedict, Jules Jacques Benoit; CCC |
| MPS | Denver Mountain Parks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000110 |
| Designated: | April 1965 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1995 |
Summit Lake Park is a special place high up in the mountains of Colorado. It's about 64 miles (100 km) west of Denver. This park is huge, covering 160 acres (0.65 square kilometers). It is famous for its unique alpine tundra environment.
Alpine tundra is a type of biome where the growth of trees is stopped by cold temperatures and strong winds. The land to the east of Summit Lake has permafrost. This means the ground stays frozen all year round. Permafrost helps keep the area from draining too quickly.
During the summer, Summit Lake Park is full of beautiful wildflowers. Some of these flowers are so rare they haven't been found anywhere else. They only grow here and in the Arctic Circle! The park gets its name from Summit Lake, which is where Bear Creek begins.
What is Summit Lake?
Summit Lake is a type of lake called a tarn. A tarn is a lake that forms in a cirque. A cirque is a bowl-shaped hollow created by a glacier. This tarn sits at a very high altitude of 12,836 feet (3,912 meters). It is located on the north side of Mount Evans and the east side of Mount Spalding.
To the north of Summit Lake, there is a mountain pass called a col. This col is 12,855 feet (3,918 meters) high. From here, you can look down into two other cirques. These cirques hold the Chicago Lakes, which are the source of Chicago Creek.
In 1915, the USGS reported that Summit Lake was the highest lake in Colorado. Some sources even say it's one of the highest lakes in the entire United States.
History of the Park
The land that makes up Summit Lake Park was bought by the city of Denver in 1924. It then became part of the Denver Mountain Parks system. This system helps protect natural areas for everyone to enjoy.
In April 1965, Summit Lake Park was given a special title. It was declared a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a nationally important natural area. It is recognized for its outstanding natural features.
